Lee considers his next moves using the information his aides, Johnston and Clarke, have gained from scouting the Union positions during the night. The Union is dug in on Culp’s and Cemetery Hills, there are men on Cemetery Ridge, but there are no men on the rocky hills to the south (Little and Big Round Tops).
Lee confers with Longstreet, who notices the “bright heat” in Lee’s eyes and feels alarm. There is no doubt in Longstreet’s mind that Lee will have them attack. Although Lee wants consensus among his commanders, he finally just orders Longstreet to attack.
Looking at the map, Lee, Longstreet, Hill, Hood, and McLaws plan the exact moves. They will use Early and Ewell’s plan: Longstreet is to start with McLaws and Hood at the far right, move behind the enemy line and up Cemetery Ridge, one unit after the other in step fashion. At the same time, Ewell and Early will attack Cemetery Hill. Longstreet tries to stall for Pickett, but Lee won’t let him. Longstreet asks for time for Law to arrive and to position men and artillery. Lee acquiesces, but is stressed. Hill looks sick again, and Hood suggests swinging to the right of the Round Tops to get the enemy from the rear, but Lee refuses. He does not want the force of the attack diluted.
The men move off to get ready. Longstreet is to be led into position by Johnston, and he tells Johnston to take as long as he needs but to be sure his men aren’t seen. Johnston, however, only scouted the enemy’s position. He doesn’t know the roads. Longstreet snarls at the missing Stuart who should have been there with this information.
Lee and Longstreet ride together for a bit on the way to the front. Lee talks of the nature of command and tries to gently work Longstreet to his side. They talk about the old days and fighting in Mexico, about the men they will fight today — men who used to serve under them. Longstreet reflects that the men in blue are never really the enemy, and that he and Lee have broken an oath, a sacred vow to uphold the Union. Lee brushes it off, staying focused on today’s plans.
An aide informs them of a Union signal team moving onto one of the Round Tops. Lee leaves Longstreet to do his work. Shortly afterward, Longstreet and Johnston discover that if they stay on this road, the enemy will see them. Johnston is devastated. Longstreet is furious with Stuart for leaving them blind. They have to double back to Willoughby Run and go another way. Longstreet worries that the men are already exhausted, and between this delay and the time it will take to arrange an echelon attack, it will be late in the day. He sends word to Lee, who is growing more anxious.
Finally reaching the front, Longstreet starts to place his men for the attack when McLaws informs him there are Union soldiers in the Peach Orchard, something they were not expecting. He sends word to Lee and posts scouts. Hood argues that given this new development, they must shift to the right and go behind the Round Tops. To do otherwise will mean a slaughter of his men. Hood begs Longstreet to change orders. Longstreet can’t . . . he won’t. He knows that by following Lee’s plan, he is ordering Hood and his men to their deaths, but he does not change the plan.
The attack begins with Hood. Longstreet holds back the anxious McLaws until the right moment. Then he releases him and Barksdale, who runs off screaming, hair streaming like a white torch.
